Facebook Hooks Up with Skype

Facebook and Skype may join forces to integrate video and voice chat with the social networking site, the iPad could be capable of running Chrome OS, and Firefox 4 may bring hardware acceleration to the Mac.

Facebook and Skype are working on a broad partnership that will include the integration of the two services through Facebook Connect, according to a person briefed on the plans, who agreed to speak on the condition of anonymity because the plans were supposed to be confidential. The partnership will be announced in the next few weeks, the person said.

A Facebook spokeswoman and a Skype spokesman declined to comment.

Under the partnership, people who use their Facebook credentials to log in to Skype will be able to see their Facebook friends on Skype. They will also be able to see their news feed and to sent text messages and call their friends’ landlines using Skype.

News of the partnership, which was first reported by the blog AllThingsD, comes as Skype is getting ready for a public offering.

Facebook has sought to blend its social network with popular communications services before, for example tying its service with AIM from AOL in February. And Facebook has said recently that it is planning to integrate its service into some mobile phones, though it denied it was building its own phone.

The tie-up with Skype presents an opportunity for both companies to grow their usage, especially internationally, where Skype has a strong presence.

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A Brit guy geeking out on Tybee Island. Web Dev, Tech Geek, Wordpress Developer & New Media Consultant, Mac Fan Boy, Musician, Audio/Technician, Visionary.
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